Waiting out the weather

[Ed_Wischmeyer]

Trying to fly from Savannah, GA to Prescott, AZ. Planned for three days, looks like it will be five. Maybe.

Spent all day yesterday in Tuscaloosa waiting out the weather before getting in a late afternoon two hour flight westward. Landed comfortably before sunset. Today it looks like I'll be waiting out the weather near Vicksburg and might -- might get in one leg this afternoon.

I'm not instrument current and that would have helped some on this trip, but severe thunderstorms don't care about your ratings. Unstable atmosphere, storms moving st 25 knots, weather I don't want to challenge.

I've got the advantage of being retired, but if you've been wondering if anybody actually does sit out the weather.... I'm exercising lots more patience than I really want to.

On a more positive note, I'm finally getting comfortable with the G3X touch. Lots of impressive features once you're up to speed.

[cderk]

Good call, Ed. I've been in your shoes and I am instrument rated. If my route of travel call for flying into weather, I usually make an attempt, knowing that if it doesn't look good I can turn around and return to good weather. Thunderstorms trump everything however...

[Auburntsts]

Yep, good call. This is a good example of why an IR is not a panacea for those of us who don't venture into the flight levels. An IR is a great tool to have in the tool bag and can give you more options, but embedded convective activity or icing definitely lends credence to the old Shakespearean adage "discretion is the better part of valor".

[Dan Langhout]

Originally Posted by Ed_Wischmeyer

. . . . . . . I've got the advantage of being retired, but if you've been wondering if anybody actually does sit out the weather.... I'm exercising lots more patience than I really want to. . . . . .

About a year ago, I waited for 3 days in San Antonio and an additional night in Vicksburg, MS trying to get home from San Antonio to Madison, AL in January. It definitely helps to be retired!

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by Dan Langhout

About a year ago, I waited for 3 days in San Antonio and an additional night in Vicksburg, MS trying to get home from San Antonio to Madison, AL in January. It definitely helps to be retired!

And if you are retired you could say that a few nights in a Motel 6 is cheaper than getting an Instrument Rating.

[bkthomps]

even when you get your instrument rating, you don't fly into weather if you can avoid it

atlanta was desperately trying to send me down the arrival yesterday, i kept refusing, they finally told me to state intentions so i said i'd keep my heading and stay clear of the bravo

they couldn't accommodate that so i canceled IFR and on my way i went, this is what they were trying to send me through

[rzbill]

Yup,
Happens to us all I think. Did to me and Diane heading west to the canyons from NC a couple of years ago. Fought our way through spotty thunderstorms until a BRIGHT yellow solid line of storms showed up on ADS-B. We landed and stayed the night in Texarkana. Storms were so bad I was worried about the plane (tiedowns were those sliding ropes on steel cables stapled on the ground type). Remainder of the trip was OK, except I had a darned headwind while coming back EAST. Go figure.


Getting past the spotty stuff

[Mike S]

If you have time to spare--------go by air.

[Ed_Wischmeyer]

Clouds weren't listening to the forecast. Didn't even make it to pattern altitude, but it was s nice if very short flight.

[rockwoodrv9]

Originally Posted by az_gila

And if you are retired you could say that a few nights in a Motel 6 is cheaper than getting an Instrument Rating.

Perfect Gil.